Nashua house fire victim is identified

By KIMBERLY HOUGHTONUnion Leader CorrespondentJuly 12. 2013 8:42PMNASHUA — The state Fire Marshal’s office has identified Alfred J. Demeusy as the man who died in Wednesday’s explosion and fire at 7 Carlisle Road.

“The cause of his death is smoke inhalation. The manner of his death is still pending,” said Max Shultz, assistant state fire marshal.

It has not yet been determined whether Demeusy’s death was accidental or intentional, said Shultz. Testing results are still being analyzed, he said.

“We have to wait for all of the laboratory results. It could take anywhere from one to two months to determine his manner of death,” Shultz said on Friday. “I cannot give you an origin or cause of the fire at this point.”

Interviews with family members and neighbors are still being conducted by investigators, and relatives are cooperating with police and fire officials, Shultz said.

Shultz said Demeusy, 65, an occupant of the residence on Carlisle Road, was found in an upstairs bedroom of the charred home.

Cynthia Bautista, the Nashua fire marshal, described Wednesday’s blaze as “pretty unique,” but he would not elaborate.

Shultz refused to comment on why the fire was so unusual, also refusing to explain the explosion that took place inside of the two-story house.

City firefighters were called to the residence shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday for a reported explosion and fire. The house was engulfed by flames when they arrived, stalling an immediate search of the building, said fire officials.

A side wall of the house flew off because of the explosion’s impact, said Schultz, adding a garage door also separated itself from the house.

City tax records identify the property owner as Clara G. Demeusy.

On Thursday, crews were busy shoring up the structure to prevent it from collapsing, and also securing the lower portion of the home to prevent intruders.

Fire officials said the Demeusy family is receiving assistance from their church organization.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact investigator Eric Berube at the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at 603-223-4289, or Detective Peter Urban of the Nashua Police Department at 603-594-3550.